Fishing For a Sustainable Future: Aquaponic as a Method of Food Production

Abstract

This thesis compares and explains the advantages aquaponics farming has over modern industrial intensive farming. Through a comparison natural capital usage, conservation, recycling and cost, the thesis advocates for the expansion of aquaponics usage in urban settings. The thesis also explains the history of intensive farming and aquaponics in America, the science of how aquaponics operates, the economic and environmental costs of modern intensive farming versus aquaponics farming, and the social implications of aquaponics. Lastly, I propose a policy that reallocates farm subsidies by modifying the Farm Bill. Then I propose policies that support creating a new standard of farm subsidy eligibility, subsidize renewable forms of energy for urban and sustainable farms, provide funding for educational facilities, and incorporate aquaponics in science classes.